Sunday, 31 May 2015

The new sketch challenge at Just Add Ink is a simple design that has so many possibilities.

I love the typewriter image from Tap Tap Tap and I have combined it with some of my retired DSP. .... Problem is that that is quite a big pile which I need to use up to make room for the new designs coming soon which I'm sure I will want to/ have to have!!!!

Friday, 29 May 2015

Well the excitement is building as we approach the launch of the new catalogue on June 2. As demonstrators we are able to purchase a small selection of what will be available in the month before so we can give you a sneak peak of what's in store. You may have come from Emma's blog. Emma is a new member of the team and it's great to have her on board. It's easy to continue around the loop to see what the design team have all been inspired to play with from their new toys - new colours, new stamps, new punches, new paper, new products.

I have to confess I wasn't sure where to start, but thought I would show you a great new product- Envelope Paper! Ir's text-weight paper made especially for making envelopes. It comes in 12 x 12" sheets in a pack of 20 for $10.50 and while it comes in two colour options I bought the new In Colour pack rather than the neutrals. It is not as heavy as the regular DSP and therefore folds more easily with less likelihood of tearing on the score lines. You need to be gentle with the score lines but it works a treat. Naturally being double sided you can have either side as your exterior and you can choose between bold stripes/plain or woodgrain and white/plain. Of course you can use the paper on your projects in place of or as well as DSP.

Here is a selection of Envelopes I made with each colour and a card to match using both new and old stamps.

Tip Top Taupe

Delightful Dijon
also showcasing the new Sprinkles of Life stamp set and the fabulous matching Punch

Cucumber Crush

The standup box is inspired by Dawn Oschefsi, and I have another sample from earlier this week with links to the instructions.

Watermelon Magic

It also makes fabulous gift bags though they will only take very light contents. The sentiment is from a new Hostess Set, Happy Birthday Everyone and the Chrysanthemum is made form another new product- Cotton Paper. more on this at a later date.

Mint Macaron
using the new Dotted Lace Trim which is absolutely gorgeous and the new In colour Blossom Accents.

Thanks for looking, be sure and check out all the great innovations from the

Wednesday, 27 May 2015

The Crazy for Challenges topic this week is Something Green for May- the month of the Emerald birthstone. The new In colours for Stamping Up have two gorgeous but very different greens so here is a cute birthday card using Cucumber Crush. - a bold and vibrant Green.

The card design is from Dawn Olschefski's Box Stand Card and is easier to make than it looks though it does take a little time cutting out all those strips.

But it is a great way to showcase some of the great DSP available in the new Cherry on Top paper pack.

Friday, 22 May 2015

Hello and welcome to the CTC blog hop. This week we are drawing inspiration from the Father's Day section of the occasions catalogue. Masculine cards are always a bit of a challenge, and this task was certainlytricky. The Guy Greetings stamp set has some terrific images and sentiments in it but I wanted to go a little deeper than just the set. The masculine paper stack looks like it holds lots of possibilities too but I don't own it -yet.

So I focused on the card

I'm not a huge fan of orange but I do love Cherry Cobbler or Real Red and Early Espresso together, and I love the stitching around the edge. I don't do a lot of sewing these days and this card reminded me why- even with a small distance the bobbin ran out half way through!!

I wanted the shoes in the tag to be shiny (like patent spats) but I found the embossing powder wasn't fine enough, and the shoes in Red just looked wrong so in the end I stamped the shoes in Early Espresso, then re stamped the image with versamark and heat embossed with clear powder over the top. My Stamp-a-Ma-jig was invaluable.

And of course the inside- ( you can even see that pesky bobbin thread is in two colours )

A wise friend taught me early in my stamping addiction that it makes good sense to make 2 cards at once while you have the ink and paper out so this is the second version which I have had in the back of my head ever since I saw the stamp set. ( I think it's actually my fave - reminds me of a record set of my mums which we played with as kids, complete with cha cha cha and foxtrot instructions!)

Thanks for looking, and enjoy the hop around all the CASEing the Catty design team. You can see the next blog here on Stasia's blog,

Saturday, 16 May 2015

Well luckily for me I am actually travelling to South Carolina for my nephew's Graduation from Clemson University. SO making a Graduation Card was not only a necessity but a good reason to make something extra special.

I used the colour inspiration from the Occasions Catalogue and created a double Easel Card (Another first for me) because I wanted the stars to be suspended in the Deco framelits frame. The gold doesn't show too well in the photos but believe me it sparkles!!!

Congratulations Connor.

This is a picture heavy post - but it's easier than writing the description!

PS. Well as I wrote this before we went, I can now add that my trip to Southern Carolina was wonderful. There is nothing quite like spending time with family, it was a crazy quick trip but worth it because it is a rare occasion that the family is all in one place together.

Connor was amazed that I made the card! Had I known just how much emphasis is placed on college colours I probably should have added some orange and purple for Clemson Uni!

Thursday, 14 May 2015

Well if you follow my blog you will know that I am a bit partial to trees! Sheltering tree is one of my favourites and here I have teemed it with Pistachio Pudding and a touch of Island Indigo. The Window

Framelits Collection is sadly retiring in ony a few weeks which is a shame - but I do know there are some other cute framelits which will be in the new catalogue.

What I like about the window framelits however, is that it is really easy to add a highlight by using a simple square as a background layer. it can be a subtle hint of colour or a bold statement.

In an effort to use up some of my stash of DSP I have made a matching envelope using the Envelope Punch Board. It makes it really easy to have a special matching card and envelope.

Don't forget to order your retiring products before they are all sold out. Available only until June 2.

order online (use the Shop now button on the left) or contact me and I can do it for you.

Monday, 11 May 2015

Blushing Bride and Kraft are such a nice combination together. This card uses Sheltering tree heat embossed with Silver over the Image stamped in silver ink, and the beautiful Label Love sentiment with matching punch is also heat embossed.

I am sad that this set is being retired but it is still available until June 2. If you would like to order please use the Shop Now button at the left of this page. The silver baker's twine works well over the Sahara Sand Lace and Burlap Ribbon.

I do love the little hearts hanging from the tree, the diamond glitter paper is coloured with pink Pirouette blendabilities. I love how you can put ink over the glimmer paper to alter it.

Saturday June 13 I am holding a fundraising card making event and I would love it if you could support my efforts. I am aiming to raise funds to support the Western Qld Drought Appeal. the drought has been ongoing for several years and the situation is desperate. It is a cause close to my heart as I used to live in the Central West for several years and the effect on not only the livestock property owners but all the communities that support them is devastating.

Come along to a card making Crafternoon Tea and make 4 cards in 4 different designs in fabulous Stampin' Up! Products. All materials provided and techniques demonstrated.

There will be a silent auction of fabulous crafting supplies, and handmade cards and other items available for sale. Tickets are essential and can be purchased through Eventbrite at #creativerelief

But if you don't think creating is not for you just come along for afternoon tea and make a donation at the door. Invite your friends.

If you would like to donate ready made cards for the sale please contact me.All donations gratefully received.

Friday, 8 May 2015

Well this is a very different Post for me - I have been invited to be part of the CASEing the Catty Blog hop. It's such an honour, all the CTC team are so creative, and I'm really excited to be part of this. You will have arrived here from Helen Heil, be sure to stop and see all the blog hop members. If you get lost you can find them all here. The next in line is Tricia. The Next blog button at the bottom of the page isn't working so you will need to come back to here to progress around the blog links.

All the Stampin' Up! catalogues have amazing samples and projects to inspire. This week we are using the sketch from page 22. I do love all those cards and have made some similar with the Sheltering Tree set, but for this I wanted to try something different.

It's funny how some challenges give you have oodles of ideas and I can produce something in a snap….. not this time for me, but I persevered and

tried numerous things with this sketch before the final assembly.

I knew I wanted to create my own doily - mostly because I don't have any currently(!? I know I know, what???…)

So after trial and error I have used the Daydream Medallions and white embossing powder on Vellum and cut it out with the Floral Framelits. It needed a plain piece of Coral Cardstock behind this so that you could see the white against the background panel, which is Something Lacy heat embossed in white onto Calypso Coral _ I think I'll be doing this more often.

The central banner is Naturals White Cardstock (so sad that this is retiring). The flowers from Everything Eleanor have also been heat embossed in white onto Vellum, and coloured with the Stained Glass Technique using the markers on the reverse for a softer look. The fern and sentiment are from World of Dreams, and the Butterfly from Papillon Potpourri has also been heat embossed in Early Espresso and coloured with markers, including Blushing Bride and Soft Suede, which ties it in to the Base.

And because I like the inside to look just as pretty as the outside I was able to use some of the other bits which didn't quite work for the first attempt!

Thanks for looking, make sure to follow the blog links and visit Tricia who is the next site

Friday, 1 May 2015

Well it's a very busy week here with convention happening and my travel plans away but I have managed to create a card using the great sketch from JAI.

After making lots of Mother's Day cards I had bits and pieces lying around and put some of them together. Sometimes a sketch just creates it's own card and this came together in minutes! I pulled out an old favourite - Everything Eleanor ( so glad this so not retiring). It's such a cute little bird but I don't use it often enough. Lost Lagoon and silver foil cardstock, and specialty silver vellum all seemd to go together easily. The antique brads are staying on the new catalogue too which is good news.